Origin
Ligonier, IN
Late night in Ligonier on Saturday
Local time
5:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ligonier, IN to Gary, IN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
111.4 mi
179 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 13m
★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ligonier, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Gary, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ligonier to Gary is 111.4 miles and takes about 2h 22m via Indiana Toll Road and others, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Indiana, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on toll roads, making for a relatively straightforward journey. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss. This is a solid choice for a single-day trip, allowing you to arrive with plenty of time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.7 miles from Ligonier, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 111.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive presents a mixed profile, with about 40% of the route utilizing highways. You'll spend a good chunk of time on the Indiana Toll Road, including a continuous stretch of 57.4 miles. This means you can expect periods of faster, more direct travel. The inclusion of Saint Joseph Valley Parkway and US 33 suggests that parts of the journey will transition to more conventional roads, offering a change of pace from the tollway. Overall, the drive is designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Indiana Toll Road is the longest continuous segment at about 57.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near US 33.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 111.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (US 33): Lane positioning matters here; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 33
Turn right onto US 33
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
25 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
51.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 80 Toll, I 90 Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 Toll, I 90 Toll
5
52.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge onto I 80; I 90 / Indiana Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
109.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward SR 53: Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14B
Toward SR 53: Broadway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Toll Road | 57.4 mi | 1h 2m |
| Saint Joseph Valley Parkway | 25.8 mi | 29m |
| US 33 | 19.2 mi | 33m |
| Lincolnway West | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| County Road 50 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| State Road 13 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Madison Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| West 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Indiana Toll Road
— 57.4 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ligonier, IN and Gary, IN.
1
Start on Pigeon Street
38 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pigeon Street
2
Turn left onto SR 5
141 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Cavin Street
3
Turn right onto Lincolnway West
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Lincolnway West
4
Continue on CR 50
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 50
5
Continue on SR 13
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Road 13
6
Turn right onto US 33
19 mi
·
33 min
·
US 33
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
8
Merge onto US 20
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Saint Joseph Valley Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 80 Toll, I 90 Toll
10
Continue on this road
464 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
12
Merge onto I 80; I 90
57 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 14B
Toward SR 53: Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto SR 53
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Broadway
15
Turn right onto US 12; US 20
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
16
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Street
17
Turn right onto 10th Place
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
10th Place
18
Arrive at destination
10th Place
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 22 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Ligonier in the morning should get you to Gary well before evening. The longest stretch without a major change is 57.4 miles on the Indiana Toll Road, so plan for your fuel needs accordingly before embarking on that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's an affordable trip, but it's always wise to check your tank before heading out. Since it's a single-day drive, you can afford to be spontaneous with any brief stops you might want to make.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.7 miles from Ligonier, IN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.7 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gary, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ligonier, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ligonier, IN
This is one driving day of about 111.4 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Ligonier, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Indiana Toll Road for about 57.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.7 mi from Ligonier, IN · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.7 miles from Ligonier, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gary, IN
The final approach into Gary, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Gary, IN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.42 one way
$34.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.12 | $38.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.44 | $42.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.60 | $49.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.02
Indiana Toll Road
(57.4 mi)
$4.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.70 | $5.35 |
| Efficient EV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.75 | $4.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.60 | $7.13 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gary, IN
Late night in Gary on Saturday
Local time
4:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 22m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ligonier, IN to Gary, IN covers 111.4 miles and takes about 2h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Indiana Toll Road, Saint Joseph Valley Parkway, US 33. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.7 miles from Ligonier, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 111.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (US 33): Lane positioning matters here; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ligonier, IN to Gary, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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